Alltel Wireless Plans - Mobile Broadband
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Alltel has a plan for unlimited data in the United States and Canada.
The last time we covered Alltel wireless plans, there were 3 mobile broadband plans to quench your thirst for unlimited 3G.
Not to be outdone by themselves, there's four Alltel Wireless plans for mobile broadband plans this time around:
National Wireless Internet | $59.99
***National Wireless Internet Bundle | $39.99
Internet Anywhere Bundle | $69.98
Extended Wireless Internet | $99.99
***Available only to existing customers willing to add a new data card line to their 'Smart Choice' wireless plan.
The National Wireless Internet plan is your regular run of the mill mobile broadband plan. Reigning in at about $60/month, it's more or less the plan to compete with the other carriers...
Except for one thing:
It's an unlimited 3G data plan. Like a rare exotic Amazonian species, upon its discovery, you might experience bewilderment and disbelief that it actually exists.
Next up is one of the newer & rarer Alltel Wireless plans.
If you are an Alltel customer (or become one) and add an Alltel data card line, you'll pay only $39.99 ($40) for unlimited mobile broadband. How sweet is that? I might just have to leave T-Mobile on this one.
The 3rd plan in the lineup offers up an interesting variety. The Internet Anywhere Bundle for about $70 gets you unlimited data for your broadband card in addition to WiFi anywhere Alltel offers it. Just between me and you (and the rest of cyberspace), this plan isn't all that exciting.
Both T-Mobile and AT&T offer WiFi hotspot usage in their mobile broadband plans for free. This is really an attempt to reduce the use of their EVDO Rev. A/Rev.0 network as it's cheaper for them if you use WiFi.
The 4th of the Alltel Wireless plans is truly an innovative one. While it might not hit the spot for most, if it helps you, then it really helps you. Alltel's Extended Wireless Internet plan for about $100 gets you unlimited 3G coverage in all of the United States and Canada.
Technically, no one else offers unlimited international mobile broadband (even if it's just in one other country). If you're a regular visit to the chilly north, then this plan can possibly save you hundreds of dollars and several strands of grey hair from stress. Kudos to Alltel on pulling this on together.
Another cool side benefit of Alltel's unlimited 3G plans is the absence of any overage charges. If you've read the free Mobile Broadband Buyer's Guide, you'll see how the major carriers can charge anywhere from $51 to $500 per Gigabyte for going over their 5 GB caps. Dangerous stuff you need to know.
The Fine Print
Alltel Wireless Internet terms and conditions are the least dense of all the carriers. For a second though, you'd think AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, Alltel and T-Mobile all have the same lawyers. The legal jargon is like someone just about copied and pasted it.
Fitting on a page it states the usual taboo activities:
"(1) Server devices or with host computer applications, including, without limitation, Web camera posts or broadcasts, continuous jpeg file transfers, automatic data feeds, telemetry applications, automated functions or any other peer-to-peer applications;
(2) as substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections;
(3) for voice over IP;
(4) in conjunction with WWAN or other applications or devices which aggregate usage from multiple sources prior to transmission;
(5) using the services for any activity that adversely affects the ability of other people or systems to use either the services or other parties' Internet-based resources including, but not limited to excessive consumption of network or system resources (whether intentional or unintentional) & "denial of service" (DoS) attacks against another network host or individual user; or
(6) interference with or disruption of other network users, network services or network equipment.
Alltel reserves the right to:
(1) limit throughput or amount of data transferred, deny service &/or terminate service, without notice, to anyone it believes is using the service in any manner prohibited above or whose usage adversely impacts its network or service levels &
(2) protect its network from harm, which may impact legitimate data flows.
In other words:
(1) No hosting or running servers
(2) No VoIP (Verizon encourages this, might be because they have a VoIP product to sell you)
(3) Anything that we think might use too much bandwidth
(4) If you do, then we'll slow you down or cut you off.
In addition to the regular fine print, there is also one word of caution. While Alltel Wireless plans for mobile broadband are the best right now, they've been purchased by Verizon. On their site, they have a 'Verizon Wireless Integration FAQs' page that explains the transition. While it's not happening immediately, in coming months, the Alltel name will be no more.
Here's what that may mean for you. If you decide to get one of the Alltel wireless plans now, and Verizon does not 'grandfather in' your old unlimited plans, you will most likely be able to cancel without any sort of early termination fee as they've effectively broken the contract that you had with Alltel. In my experience, I had my Sprint unlimited mobile broadband plan grandfathered in and I happily download without fear of overage charges. With Alltel things may be different. Consider this your heads up.
Now that you've got a clear picture on Alltel wireless plans for mobile broadband, let's take a find out 'How Fast is Alltel Wireless Internet?'
